This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
Google's Covid-19 Community Mobility Report for the week ending April 26, 2020, reveals a significant shift in Kenyan behavior as the country continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the report, there has been a 16% increase in Nairobi residents returning to work, with a corresponding reduction in movement in residential areas from 25% to 20%.
Recreational areas such as restaurants, shopping centers, and movie theaters have also seen a 5% reduction in human traffic.
"More Kenyans are avoiding crowded places," said Dorothy Ooko, Google's Head of Communications and Public Affairs, Africa. "Recreational areas like restaurants, shopping centers, and movie theaters have recorded a 5% reduction in movement."
Other areas that have seen a reduction in movement include grocery and pharmacy spaces (7%), national parks, public beaches, marinas, dog parks, plazas, and public gardens (3%), and public transport such as buses and trains (6%).
County-level data also shows a rise in Nairobi residents traveling to work, causing an 8% reduction in those in estates.
Meanwhile, Mombasa has seen a 10% increase in people within work spaces and a 2% reduction in people moving within residential areas.
Kisumu recorded an increase of 14% in those going to their work places and a 3% reduction of movement in residential spaces in the past week.
The Covid-19 Community Mobility Reports are part of Google's global response to the coronavirus pandemic to help people and public health officials understand responses to social distancing guidance related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
